Permutation-lock.



E. J. BossERT. PERMUTATION LOCK. APPLICATION FILED APR.I13.1908.

904,302. Patented N0v.17, 190s.

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[UPV n@ viv/tor I mdreg/ E. J. BOSSBRT. PERMUTATION LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED AP11.13.1908.

v 904,302. Patented Nov, 17, 1.908.. Fig. 3 4 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses.-

@Hwa/@f1 JM@ UNITED srarps PATENT onirica.

ERNST I. BOSSERT, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO JACOB BAUM, OlCINCINNATI, OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

i it PERMUTATION-LOCK.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

Application led April 13, 1908. Serial No. 426,649.

yTo all whom fit may concern.'

Be it known that I, Ennsr J. Bossnn'r, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio,have-.invented certain new and useful Improvements in Permutation-Locks,of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to locks having revolving tumbler wheels, theobject being to provide a simple, compact and reliable construction,convenient to adjust and to operate.

My invention consists in the combination with the operative mechanism ofa lock, of a series of tumbler wheels, each comprising an inner disk bymeans of which rotary motion is transmitted to the tumbler' wheel in theprocess of unlocking, and a rim sui'- rounding the disks, composed ofdivided or discontinuous annular plates rigidly and concentricallysecured together, whereby the outer edges of these plates form theperiphery of the tumbler wheel, and their inner edges are adjacent tothe inner disk thereof, havingoverlapping guiding parts provided with acam to produce relative movement between the guiding parts, and to flexall of the plates of each tumbler wheel collectively, whereby the inneredges of the plates may be madeto engage and clamp the inner disk tocause its rotation to be transmitted to the rim, or to disengage fromthe inner disk, to allow the inner disk to be rotated while the rimremains stationary, for changing the combination of the lock.

Hy invention also consists in the parts and in the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts as will hereinafter be more fullydescribed and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure l is an elevation of the inner face of a lockembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on a linecorresponding to the line :U-m of Fig. 1, parts of the front and rearplates of the door being represented as in position. Fig. 3 is a frontelevation, and Fig. et is a rear elevation of one of the tumbler wheelsconstructed according to my invention. Fig. 5 is an edge View of one ofthe tumbler wheels. Fig. 6 is a vertical section through one of thetumbler wheels, on a line corresponding to the line g/-y of Fig. 3. Fig.7 is an edge view of one of the inner disks. Fig. 8 is a rear elevationof one of the plates comprising the rim'of the tumbler wheel. Fig. 9 isa rear elevation of another one of the plates comprising the rim of thetumbler wheel. Fig. l() is an edge view, and Fig. 11 is a rear elevationof the cam. Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the key used for rotating thecams.

As illustrated, the various parts constituting my invention are mountedin a lock case l, provided with an interior tumbler case 2 which haswalls preferably concentric to the tumbler spindle 3, by means of whichspindle rotary motion is adapted to be transmitted to the tumblersinside the case by means of the knob 1l extending outside the frontplate 5 of the door in the usual manner, the tumbler spindle 3 beingsuitably journaled in a hollow stud 6 secured to the plate 5 and forminga support thereon for the lock case l and its tumbler case 2. Rearwardlythe tumbler case 2 is closed by a plate 7 which lies in an opening inthe rear plate 8 of the door. This tumbler case 2 also supports a stud 9which forms a pivot for the dog 10, which presents an arm l1 extendingparallel with the tumbler spindle 3, and adapted to engage with theperipheries of the tumbler wheels 12, 12b l2 and 12d, each provided witha slot 13, adapted to admit the arm 11. As illustrated, a bolt 14 isslidably mounted in the lock case 1 and adapted to be reciprocated bymeans of a crank l5 and provided with a projection 16, which will beengaged by a part of the dog l() unless the arm ll entersall therecesses 13 in the tumbler wheels. The above parts are enumerated andthe details of their construction and operation set forth, merely inorder to facilitate the following description of the construction of myinvention and the manner of its operation in conjunction with themechanism of a lock, and it will be understood that my i1n proved deviceis not limited in its adaptation to locks of the herein describedconstruction, but may be used with any lock constructed to be operatedand controlled by means of a plurality of revolving tumblers, and ofwhich it is desired to change the combination of movements required tobring the tumblers into position for unlocking, without removing anypart of the lock or the door on which it is mounted, and where it ispermissible to insert the key7 for changing the combination, into theface of the lock from the inside of the door.

The tumbler wheel 12a constitutes the driving tumbler wheel and issuitably rigidly secured on the tumbler spindle 3, and j ournaled, bymeans of a hub, in the interior of the tube 17, which is rigidly mountedin the tumbler case 2 and also forms the means of attaching the tumblercase 2 to the hollow stud 6 which supports it. This tube 17 has ashoulder between which and the driving tumbler wheel 12a are mounted thedriven tumbler wheels 12b, 12C and 12(1 held on the tube 17 by a ring18. rllhese driven tumbler wheels are tree to rotate on the tube 17 andhave washers interposed between them and held stationary by means oflugs taking into a slot in the tube 17, so that the motion of onetumbler wheel is not transmitted to the other, except by stationary lugs19 mounted on the tront sides of the tumbler wheels, and movable lugs 2Omounted on rings 21 on the rear sides ot' the tumbler wheels, whichrings are adapted to engage with the hubs 22 ot' their respectivetumbler wheels. The lugs 2O are thus movable, as is common in theconstruction of permutation locks, tor the purpose of increasing theintricacy of the process of operation of the lock in the transmission ofthe motion successively from the driving tumbler wheel to the driventumbler wheels, under the guidance of the dial 23 on the outside of thelock, and according to a certain formula which constitutes thecombination of the lock, to bring the slots 13 of all the tumbler wheelsinto alinement for the admission of the arm 11 of the dog 10, and

allow the bolt 14C to be reciprocated for unlocking.

For changing the construction of the lock, the tumbler wheels 12a, 12b,12C and 12 are composed of inner disks 24a, 24h, 24C and 24d,respectively, each surrounded by a rim adapted to be clamped to theinner disk to rotate with it, or to be released trom the inner disk andremain stationary while the inner disk revolves. F or holding the rimsto rotate with the inner disks or to release the inner disks and allowthem to rotate independently of the rims, as may be desired in changingthe combination of the lock, the rims are of laminated construction,each one of them comprising a middle plate 25 and a front and a rearflanking plate 26 and 27, respectively, rigidly secured together bymeans of rivets 23, having counter-sunk heads so that the front and rearsides of the rim thus formed may be smooth. The inner disk 24a, 24h,24C, or 24d, as the oase may be, has its periphery turned down near eachof its sides, so that a rib 29 extends completely around its peripheryin the middle thereof, with ournals 30 and 31 formed by the turned downparts at either side et the rib 29. The width of the rib 29 is onlyslightly less than the thickness of the middle plate 25, and the centralopening in this middle plate 25 is just sutliciently large to admit theannular rib 29, while the central openings in the flanking plates 26 and27 are just sutliciently large to admit the journals 3() and 31 ot' theinner disk, so that when the plates forming the rim are securedtogether, the inner disks will be ournaled in the flanking plates 26 and27 and held from movement laterally of the rim by these flanking plates.

Openings 32, or' equal` diameter, are provided in the flanking plates ofthe rims, in suoli positions that they will be in alinement with eachother when the plates are riveted together, while the middle plate 25 isalso provided with an opening 33, which, however, is somewhat larger indiameter than the openings 32 in the flanking plates, and is eccentricto them when the plates are riveted together. The cam 34 is of lengthequal to the aggregate thickness of the plates constituting the rim andcomprises the journals 35 in alinement with each other and adapted toform journal bearings in the openings 32 in the flanking plates, and amiddle rib 36, eccentric to the journals 35, and adapted to form ajournal bearing in the opening 33 in the middle plate. Extending throughthe cam 34- from end to end, parallel with the axis, is the angulatedopening 37, which permits of the insertion of a correspondingly shapedkey 33 for rotating the cam.

The middle plate 25 is completely divided and terminates at 39` on oneside of the cam 3a', while the flanking plates 26 and 27 are completelydivided and terminate at Ll0 and 41, respectively, on the other side ofthe cam 3d, one or" the rivets 23 being preferably placed adjacent tothe division at 39 of the middle plate, and another adjacent to thedivisions at 40 and -11 of the flanking plates, on the sides away fromthe cam 34, to reinforce the rim at these points. However, no rivets areplaced between the cam and the places where the plates are divided, anda sufficient amount of material composing the rings is removed at eachof the places where they are divided, to form a considerable intersticeand allow of relative edgewise movement of the parts of the severalplates adjacent to the cam 34:. Thus, the part of the middle plate lyingaround the cam 34: is adapted to slide between the adjacent parts of theflanking plates, and when the cam 311- is rotated, its rib 36 beingeccentric to its journals 35, the part of the middle plate adjacent tothe cam will be moved with respect to the parts of the flanking platesadjacent thereto, with the effect that the plates comprising the rimswill be flexed in an edgewise direction and the central openings in theplates will be increased or decreased in size, when the cam 34: isrotated. The plates comprising the rims being so formed inner disks toform journal bearings for them, ribs 29 for allowing them to turn in therims when the cam 34 is in position for holding the parts of the platesapart where the plates are divided, the rotation of the cam to drawthese parts of the plates together will also decrease the size of thecentral openings in the plates to such an extent that the inner edges ofthe plates around these central openings will engage with theperipheries oi the inner disks and compel the rims to rotate with theinner disks.

It is preferable that the central openings in the middle plates shouldbe so proportioned with respect to the central openings in the iiankingplates that the inner edges of the middle plates, around the centralopenings, will not engage with the ribs 29 of the inner disks when inreleased position, and this allows the annular ribs 29 to be providedwith teeth 42, as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings, for increasingthe effectiveness of the frictional contact between the inner edges ofthe middle plates and the inner disks, when the rims are in clampedposition.

A key guide 43 is rotatably mounted in the plate 7 in such position thatit will be in alinement with the cams 34 in the rims ot the tumblerwheels when these tumbler wheels have been rotated, so that their slots13 are all in alinement and so that they admit the arm 11 of the dog 10.Preferably the cams are placed diametrically opposite from the slots 13in the rims, and when the cams of all the tumbler wheels thus come intoalinement, a key 38 may be inserted through the key guide 43 and throughall ot the cams 34 to rotate all of them simultaneously. In order tolimit the rotation of the cams by the key, the key guide 43 is providedwith a radially extending lug 44 adapted to engage with stops 45 and 46when the cam is rotated to clamping position and releasing position,respectively. The key thus inserted into openings in the cams afterrotating them to releasing position, also serves to maintain the rims ofall of the tumbler wheels in the position in which they were releasedfrom the inner disks.

In order to change the combination of the lock it is only necessary tobring all of the tumbler wheels into position with their slots 13 inalinement so that the arm 11 of the dog 10 enters the slots, bringingthe lock into unlocking position and bringing all of the cams intoalinement, as above described, insert the key and release the rims fromthe inner disks, then destroy the existing combination of positions ofthe inner disks by rotating the tumbler spindle in alternate directions,after which the new combination may be formed by manipulating thetumbler spindle according to the new formula that it is desired shallgovern the new combination of the lock, guided by the dial in the usualand to admit their middle annular f manner.

When this manipulation of the tumbler spindle according to the newformula has been completed by bringing the tumbler spindle into the lastposition of the combination, it is allowed to remain in this position,the key 38 is turned to rotate the cams of all of the tumbler wheelsback to clamping position, securely clamping the rims on the innerdisks, and then withdrawing the key, allowing the various tumbler wheelsto be rotated according to the engagement of the stationary lugs withthe movable lugs on the inner disks, and making it necessary, in orderto again bring the slots 13 into alinement for allowing the unlocking ofthe lock, to manipulate the tumbler spindle according to the formula bywhich it was manipulated while the rims were released from the innerdisks and held stationary by the key 38.

It will be seen that the rims constructed as above described effectuallyengage with the peripheries ot' the inner disks throughout their entireextent, constituting a positive and reliable clamping engagement betweenthe rims and the inner disks, which is a most essential requirement in apermutation lock having a combination changing device, since, should oneof the inner disks slip in its rim, the combination will be destroyed,rendering it practically impossible to unlock the lock by manipulationof the tumbler spindle, and making it necessary to open the sate, orother receptacle, by other moans. Thilo thus forming a thoroughlyetlicient clamp, the rim is of simple, compact construction, consisting,as it does, of only the three plates rigidly secured together andlimited to collective tlexure, each having parts lapping over a part ofthe other adjacent to their terminations, and ot the cam journaled inthe overlapping parts, being, in eiiect, only two relatively movingparts. By this simplicity of construction, economy in rst cost is notonly attained, but the reliability of the operation of the device, asidefrom the obviation of the danger of the inner disks inopportunelyturning in the rims, is insured, due to the fact that the cam, composedof a single piece and simply journaled in the rim, which, in effect, isalso a single piece, aords very little possibility of derangement, whilethe broad overlapping arrangement of the rigidly joined plates, adjacentto the cam, insures an eiiicient guidance of the moving parts of theplates in clamping and unclamping. The collective fleXure of all of theplates in such a laminated construction is especially desirable in thatit relieves the rivets or other members used to secure the platestogether, of all strain tending to dismember the rim, so that eflicientmaintenance of the shape of the tumbler wheel, when in position wherethe plates are divided, not being continuous throughout `the thicknessof the rim,

' the peripheral surface of the tumbler wheel in the region of thesedivisions remains continuous, and affords the desired smooth bearing forthe arm 11 of the dog l0 which rests against the periphery of thetumbler wheel, while the general construction allows the other surfacesof the tumbler wheel to retain the smoothness essential to itssuccessful operation.

Having fully Idescribed my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is.

l. In a permutation lock, the combination with the operative mechanismof the lock, of a series of tumbler wheels, each comprising an innerdisk by means of which rotary motion is transmitted to the tumblerwheel, and a laminated rim surrounding each of the inner disks, composedof divided annular plates which are rigidly vsecured together and haveoverlapping parts, and a cam mounted in the overlapping parts adapted toproduce relative movement between them, substantially as and for thepurposes specilied.

2. In a permutation lock, the combination with the operating mechanismof the lock, of a series of tumbler wheels, each comprising an innerdisk by means of which rotary motion is transmitted to the tumblerwheel, and`a laminated rim surrounding each of the inner disks, composedof divided annular plates which are rigidly secured together and haveoverlapping parts, and a cam journaled in one of the overlapping partsand having a projection adapted to engage with one of the otheroverlapping parts, whereby relative movement may be produced betweenthem, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a permutation lock, the combination with the operative mechanismof the lock, of a series of tumbler wheels, each comprising an innerdisk by means of which rotary motion is transmitted to the tumblerwheel, a laminated rim surrounding the inner disk, comprising a dividedannular middle plate and divided annular flanking plates, rigidlysecured to the middle plate, a cam having journals in the flankingplates and having a projection eccentric to the journals, the middleplate having an opening eccentric to the journal bearings of the cam inthe flanking plates, and the eccentric projection of the cam beingjournaled in said eccentric opening in the middle plate, whereby themiddle and flanking plates may be collectively flexed, substantially as.and for the purposes specified.

4. In a permutation lock, the combination with the operative mechanismof the lock,

of a series of tumbler wheels, each comprising an inner disk by means ofwhich rotary motion is transmitted to the tumbler wheel, a rimsurrounding the inner disk comprising a divided annular middle plate anddivided annular flanking plates, a cam mounted in the plates, adapted toproduce collective flexure of the plates, the middle plate havingterminations on one side loit' the cam and the flanking plates havingterminations on the other side of the cam, substantially as and for thepurposes specied.

5. In a permutation lock, the combination with the operative mechanismof the lock, of a series of tumbler wheels, each comprising an innerdisk by means of which rotary motion is transmitted to the tumblerwheel, a laminated rim surrounding the inner disk, composed of dividedannular plates rigidly secured together, a cam mounted in the rim toproduce collective flexure of the plates, and teeth on the periphery ofthe inner disk, adapted to be engaged by one of the plates when they arecollectively flexed, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

' ERNST J. BOSSERT.

fitnesses JAMES U. RAMSEY, CLARENCE PnRDnw.

